Yoga and Healing in Chacala
One of the most popular activities in Playa Chacala is Yoga.
Classes are held at the Chacalilla Beach Club with all donations for the class going to Chacala’s Cambiado Vidas scholarship program.
Michael is an example of one of our visiting instructors and we interviewed him to find out about his style of yoga and what inspired him to take up yoga himself.
Q: Michael, what sort of yoga do you teach?
A: Sivananda Yoga
Q: And how does that differ from other types of yoga?
A: It is a very classical/traditional style of yoga and is one of the oldest yoga lineages. We start with breathing exercises where some styles of yoga skip the breathing exercises all together. Sivananda follows a specific sequence of 12 poses in a specific order. Also in Sivananda we do not use props in poses like in some yoga methods, just you and the yoga mat.
Q: When did you first try yoga?
A: I first tried yoga and it made me a better overall athlete. I took my first yoga class 4 or 5 years ago and then I was hooked.
Q: What does yoga do for you?
A: Physically you feel stronger and more flexible, it eliminates back pain, neck pain, or just any kind of pain in the body and makes you feel youthful and limber again! Spiritually yoga can provide guidance and lead you in a positive direction in life. It offers peace of mind, feeling content with yourself and you can gain full control of your emotions with yoga so you are not an emotional wreck. Lol.
No more stress!
Q: What makes you teach yoga?
A: To help people, I just enjoy sharing this knowledge of yoga with others and like making positive impacts in people’s lives. This is what draws me to teaching yoga.
Michael
Massage
There are several masseurs available in Playa Chacala, some are set up on the beach and others offer an in home service.
Please speak to the staff at Casa Pacifica for further information.
a visiting masseur on the patio at Casa Pacifica
Massage area at Majahua Hotel
Temazcal
A temazcal is a type of sweat lodge which originated with pre-Hispanic Indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica. The word temazcal comes from the Nahuatl word temazcalli (“house of heat”), or possibly from the Aztec teme (to bathe) and calli (house). In ancient Mesoamerica it was used as part of a curative ceremony thought to purify the body after exertion such as after a battle or a ceremonial ball game. It was also used for healing the sick, improving health, and for women to give birth. It continues to be used today in Indigenous cultures of Mexico and Central America that were part of the ancient Mesoamerican region for spiritual and health reasons. It is currently being recovered by all sectors of society in that part of the world and is used as a cleansing of mind, body and spirit.
In Playa Chacala we have a resident shaman who runs a temazcal twice a week.
Please speak to the staff at Casa Pacifica for further information.
